Crime Prevention on Farms: Why Bother?

• In Event: Criminology of Food and Agriculture PART I (Farm Victimisation)

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings from a mail survey of 3160 farmers from two states in Australia: Queensland and New South Wales, which examined property crime on farms, and farmers’ attitudes to rural crime and security practices. Trends in crime prevention were assessed by comparing the findings with those of a previous study conducted in 2001. Only half of all rural crimes are reported to police, and this reporting rate has not changed since 2001. Most crime prevention practices by farmers are reactions to criminal events rather than proactive crime prevention. Many have been forced to change farm management practices to prevent further victimization. Compared with the 2001 findings, few farmers bothered with property security. Few could rely on their neighbors to call the police or let them know if there were suspicious activities occurring on their property. There is little involvement in community crime prevention programs, and informal crime prevention groups lack community support. These trends are examined and possibilities for improving farm security are discussed.

Author

• Elaine Barclay, University of New England, Australia